This whole debate started off with, whether the changes to the crafting system make sense or not, and developed in the usual RPer vs. PLer debate, not to forget the everlasting threat about the WIPE.
So, as long as there is a way to progress in skills (be it via gifts from the xmas tree or via months of grinding), some people will grind, and some people will buy the products the grinders produce.
There are people that are happily playing the game (at least that was the definition last time I checked) by using the given features of building skills.
And what would be the benefit of all of that hard work (of those PLers) if they wouldn't engage with others in selling their wares, trading (at least some kind of RP), perhaps fighting if one likes (yet more PLing). One can't always talk about the weather ... (at least I can't).
Looking down on them as PLers is just arrogant and ignorant (like my previous statement about the weather).
Oh, I forgot the alternative, we all stop leveling and RP the mining, and then RP the smiting with the RPed ores, and then RP the fights with the RPed weapons ...
The wipe will perhaps resolve the xmas tree issue, but not the rest.
So let's assume the whole crafting and fighting system will survive the whole PL vs RP argument and the eminent WIPE. Then just imagine the PL rush after the wipe.
At first, everyone (except the hardcore RPers) will try to get his hand on a decent weapon, to make some bucks, to make some form of progress, e.g. getting a mount.
Then you will have the few (fortunate?) ones that have all day to play and are back up and running in a few days and others might take a couple of months (if they come back).
But otherwise ... nothing changed.
As long as the goals are shifted higher and higher, and it is becoming more and more difficult to reach them, some people will try to reach them. And the whole RP vs PL debate won't change it. And as long as there is no technical limit preventing it, some will reach it. People have soooo much time and endurance, it's scary ...
Now what about this:
Limit the amount of overall skills people can reach, therefore make it easier to achieve the maximum in a specific area.
If someone wants to be perfect in one area, he can't be in all others. Perhaps introduce a way to give up some skills to progress in others.
This will eliminate all the PLing. Once the top is reached, that's it. And then people will have time to spend on RP, rather than standing 100s of hours at an anvil. Except they want to produce for a market ...
Then in my eyes the whole WIPE debate makes sense and you will encourage interaction, thus RP. Not by making everything but RP unbearable.
